« YouTube copyright plan great for YouTube | Main | Movie posters that make you go, ‘Huh?’ »
Putting a number on commercial sellouts
—Posted by Mark Dolliver |
|
October 16, 2007 | Permalink |
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
As if being a sellout was a bad thing. Only liberals celebrate poverty.
Posted by: Bobby | Oct 16, 2007 11:47:39 AM
Don't you wish this sort of thing actually could be determined scientifically? It would help settle some legendary happy hour arguments at our studio!
Of course, it's easy to say you'll never sell out when no one's making any offers.
We also wrote it up at our music licensing blog :
http://blog.burstlabs.com/2007/the-art-of-selling-out-the-moby-quotient/
Seemed appropriate. :)
Posted by: Burst Labs | Oct 16, 2007 11:48:57 AM
Bobby,
Apparently only Liberals appreciate art that isn't tied to mass consumption.
There's nothing wrong with a good song in a commercial, it's just that the musicians who used to stand against "the system" now sell out their classic songs for some quick cash. Iggy Pop allows anyone with $5 to use the rights to "Lust for Life", a song about DRUG ADDICTION. I guess if it helps sell a few cruise vacations...
Plus, isn't nice when you hear a Who song, and all you can think about is solving crimes?
Posted by: ChrisM70 | Oct 16, 2007 1:59:02 PM
"Apparently only Liberals appreciate art that isn't tied to mass consumption."
---That's an ironic statement considering that popular music is tied to mass consumption. When Madonna has a concert, she doesn't charge $10.95. I've seen people selling her tickets for as much as $500. Look at hip hop, look at how their artists were all that bling. Look at how MTV has a show called "Cribs" which is all about the luxurious lifestyles of famous artists. Frankly, I'd rather be a rich sellout than a poor nobody.
" it's just that the musicians who used to stand against "the system" "
---If by that you mean capitalism, then it would seem that the system has worked really well for them. I love it how Harry Belafonte can leave his California mansion, go to Venezuela, praise Chavez attack America,, and then return to his luxury lifestyle.
Just like those hollywood actors that won't do TV commercials here but do them in Japan.
Even The Beatles and Bob Dylan, the embodiment of the counter culture, made millions using the system to tell others to oppose the system. Does that make sense to you? Well, from a business sense, it does to me.
It's not different than those unknown musicians who write stock music my clients later buys for $500.
Everyone has to pay the rent/mortgage.
Posted by: Bobby | Oct 16, 2007 2:45:18 PM
I think it boils down to being an "artist" versus being a "performer."
Both have their merits.
Posted by: yikes | Oct 16, 2007 3:57:48 PM
thank god bobby has this blog to vent his ridiculous rants on. otherwise he might end up like these guys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLPuGuaZTx8
Posted by: yikes indeed | Oct 16, 2007 4:12:09 PM
"That's an ironic statement considering that popular music is tied to mass consumption"
It doesn't have to be - that's my point.
Examples: R.E.M., Radiohead, Neil Young, etc.
-------
"Frankly, I'd rather be a rich sellout than a poor nobody."
Welcome to our vapid, I've-got-mine, celebrity culture.
Posted by: ChrisM70 | Oct 16, 2007 4:33:41 PM
"thank god bobby has this blog to vent his ridiculous rants on. otherwise he might end up like these guys"
---And your point is what, Yikes? Geraldo Rivera and Bill O'reilly are extremely accomplished people that worked very hard to get to where they are. We should all hope to end up like them.
"I think it boils down to being an "artist" versus being a "performer."
----Dude, a performer is an artist. There's a reason why they call it the "performing arts." I think what you're trying to say is that an artists would not compromise his vision to satisfy the public. Like Marilyn Manson and Stephen King. But in the end, only the succesful ones can afford to do anything they want and have people buy their stuff. Everyone else follows whatever vision sells the most.
"Examples: R.E.M., Radiohead, Neil Young, etc."
---So those guys aren't sellouts? Interesting. When I google them I found some people consider them sellouts, while others don't.
"Welcome to our vapid, I've-got-mine, celebrity culture."
---Actually, that's a different topic. Being a celebrity doesn't make you automatically rich. Those people posting videos of themselves doing weird stuff on youtube may become celebrities, a serial killer may become a celebrity, but MONEY is what matters the most.
Posted by: Bobby | Oct 16, 2007 5:24:43 PM
Again...
It's easy to say you'll never sell out when no one's making any offers.
Posted by: Burst Labs | Oct 16, 2007 6:48:31 PM
BUY ME!
Posted by: whore | Oct 16, 2007 7:02:56 PM
I didn't post the O'Reilly/Geraldo thing.
But otherwise, yeah pretty much. Some create art to create, others create art to make money.
The best ones get to do both.
Posted by: yikes | Oct 16, 2007 7:43:51 PM
"MONEY is what matters the most. "
Nice comment Bobby.
Is that a quote from the bible?
I think Jesus said it when he was ignoring the lepers.
Posted by: ChrisM70 | Oct 16, 2007 8:54:10 PM
That's why I try not to use great songs in my spots. I know many people who are more than willing, but they can kill the song for a lot of people.
Someone used the acoustic version of 'such great heights' for a freakin M&M commercial.
That person should be embarrassed.
Posted by: Doug | Oct 16, 2007 11:37:57 PM
"Apparently only Liberals appreciate art that isn't tied to mass consumption."
Apparently Liberals appreciate mass consumption but hide under the shroud of hypocrisy. I haven't noticed Madonna quitting her lucrative career to become a missionary living in a 3rd world. Below are 2 headlines from the same year. Paul Simon doesn't seem to live in squalor either. I could go on.
Madonna says wealth overrated in new book
Nov 11, 2004 (LONDON) - She's famed for being the Material Girl, but Madonna's next illustrated children's book is about how wealth is overrated.
Madonna Breaks World Wealth Record
Pop superstar Madonna has smashed singing rival Britney Spears' record for the highest annual earnings by a female singer.
The Material Girl raked in an estimated $50 million in 2004 -- over $10 million more than Spears earned in 2000.
Posted by: debbers | Oct 19, 2007 11:55:23 AM
You do know that people are individuals, right?
Just because you can find a few examples of rich idiots like Madonna, what does that mean?
That NO ONE believes in art without it being tied to consumerism?
Give me a break.
Posted by: ChrisM70 | Oct 24, 2007 8:31:43 AM
funny that he picked Moby for this. I have despised this bastard for the longest time, just when techno was starting to catch on here in the US, he swooped in to drain all the publicity into his limp, cliche, Xtian, backwards-looking crap, and to me that's pretty unforgivable. I'd love to punch him in the mouth several times, step back like i'm waiting for him to talk, then punch him some more.
Posted by: ed | Oct 26, 2007 12:19:25 PM
I am trying to be a sell out.
Please visit my website: http://www.tshirtwebsites.com
Posted by: Monkey Butler | Oct 26, 2007 1:36:13 PM
